The SEC Group
Offering Tents with Visual Impact
by Pat McCarrell | Published in March 2006 In Profile
When Zachry Veal first decided to put up a wedding-event tent to attract more patrons to his hotel, he knew as much about tents as anyone who’s assembled a two-man camping tent: not much.
That humble beginning led to the creation of a full-sized tent rental company called Beach View Tent Rentals.
Veal says he could probably support 60 tent projects of varying sizes simultaneously now. And all of those tents would feature structures provided by The SEC Group (formerly known as SEC Sales Group).
“If there’s ever a question about how to get a project done they’ve been able to figure out a way to get it done. A lot of what we’ve been able to do is because of them.” Veal says.
SEC Group’s Sales Manager, Christopher Whitlow, notes that tents continue to grow in popularity for events, meetings and the like.
“As technology has improved, tents have increasingly taken on the appearance and durability of permanent structures,” Whitlow says. “This makes it easier for event coordinators to have a huge visual impact on events – and you only get one chance at that.”
SEC was started 15 years ago by its President and tent veteran Spencer Etzel with the goal of designing, managing and handling a number of tent products that enhance the tent environment. Whitlow says SEC’s recently expanded staff brings years of industry knowledge and know-how to any project for rental companies such as Beach View, Marquis Tent and Regency Party Rental.
SEC-designed tents are built by Olympic Tent and A&E Structures, and interior liners are made by Baytex. Maximizer Tent Products produces Fibertech tent doors, Party Lights and the tools it takes to successfully set up, take down and maintain tents.
“We ask ourselves three questions when designing and selecting products,” Whitlow says. “Is it easier to install? Is it engineered and designed to last longer in the rental industry? Does it produce an economic benefit to the customer? If the answer is no, then we don’t sell it.”
Ease of installation is accomplished through design by thinking like a tent installer. Etzel has been designing, manufacturing and installing tents for 30 years.
“We take pride in the fact that our frames and components are engineered to fit squarely, and go up more easily than our competitors’,” Whitlow says. “We also provide conversion kits for most major tent systems to give rental companies the ability to use SEC’s slide track tops without replacing their entire frame.”
Lasting longer is a function of the engineering design, manufacturing quality practices and high-quality parts. Fibertech tent doors are an example of this. Designed by Etzel specifically for the tent environment, they are built to exacting standards with the highest quality parts to ensure durability.
The SEC Group is always looking for ways to help its clients stand out from their competition. One way is by using colored fabric. Whitlow points out that the SEC Group has the ability to print practically any color or design imaginable. “We created a purple tent with Crown Royal’s logo for their NASCAR hospitality tent.”
Providing economic benefit to its customers is a chief concern at the SEC Group. “Adding Baytex tent liners to the ceiling, walls and legs has been a very good way to improve profits from each job, and at the same time add a feeling of elegance unique to the tent environment,” Whitlow says.
Beach View’s Veal couldn’t agree more.
“I think back to all the questions I asked, they seem pretty dumb right now,” Veal says. “But I was able to do a lot of what we’ve done with these guys’ help. They answered a lot of questions.”
About the author: Pat McCarrell
Pat McCarrell was formerly the publisher and editor of Event Solutions magazine.
Contact: editor@event-solutions.com